Irradiation which acts directly and produces the reactive oxygen radicals by ionizing water molecules, causes significant morbidity and mortality. The muscle is damaged by direct action, oxygen radicals and the alterations of microcirculation and metabolism after irradiation. The changes of SOD immunoreactivities in muscles of the rats after irradiation were observed. The ultrastructural changes of the irradiated muscles with the pretreatment of SOD (superoxide dismutase) or without were also investigated. A total of 60 healthy Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing from 200g to 250g were used as experimental animals. Under urethane (1.15g/kg. IP.2 times) anesthesia,30 Gy irradiation to lower extremities by PICKER-C9 Cobalt-60 teletherapy unit was done. 15,000 unit/kg of SOD was administered intraperitoneally 1 hour before irradiation. The experimental animals were sacrificed 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after irradiation. The superficial portions of the mid-belly of the rectus femoris muscles were obtained and sliced into portions, 2 mm in length, 1 mm in width and in thickness. The specimens were prepared by routine methods for the electron microscopic observation. All preparations were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and observed with a Hitachi-600 electron microscope. The other parts of mid-belly of the rictus femoris muscles were sectioned in 14 micrometer thickness with cryostat at -20 degrees C. The immunoreactivities of SOD by use of antihuman Cu, Zn-and Mn-SOD antibodies were observed. The results were obtained as follows . 1. After irradiation, the immunoreactivities of SOD in the rictus femoris muscle were decreased. 2 weeks after irradiation, the immunoreactivities of Cu, Zn-SOD were trace, which was lowest.4 weeks after irradiation, the immunoreactivities were trace or weak. 1 day after irradiation, the immunoreactivities of Mn-SOD were trace, which was lowest. The immunoreactivities of Mn-SOD were increased gradually 4 weeks after irradiation, the immunoreactivities of Mn- SOD were moderate or weak. 2. The ultrastructural changes in the rectus femoris muscles of the rats were getting severer and severer after irradiation. 2 weeks after irradiation, unclear A band and I band, myofibrillolysis, increased and dilated cistemae of sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria with dilated cristae and electron lucent matrix were seen. 4 weeks after irradiation, lysis of sarcomere and increased cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum were seen. 3. The ultrastructural changes in the rectus femoris muscles of the rats were getting worse and worse after 3 days of irradiation with the pretreatment of SOD. 2 weeks after irradiation with the pretreatment of SOD, myofibrillolysis, increased and dilated cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum and damaged mitochondria were seen. 4 weeks after irradiation with the pretreatment of SOD, the ultrastructures of rectus femoris muscles were recovered to normal. Consequently, after irradiation of 30 Gy, the immunoreactivities of SOD are decreased and SOD attenuates the reversible changes of ultrastructures in muscles.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Citric Acid ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Metabolism ; Microcirculation ; Mitochondria ; Mortality ; Muscles ; Quadriceps Muscle* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sarcomeres ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Urethane

BACKGROUND: Temporary interruption of blood flow to the liver is often unavoidable during operations for extensive injury of the liver or for major liver resection. Following ischemia- reperfusion, transient dysfunction of the liver occurs. It has been suggested that reactive oxygen metabolites play an important role in microvascular reperfusion injury. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and dimethylthiourea (DMTU) are known to be antioxidants that scavenge oxygen free radicals to reduce microvascular reperfusion injury. This experiment studied the effect of SOD and DMTU on warm ischemia-reperfusion injury to the liver and compared inflow occlusion and hepatic vascular exclusion (HVE) after 20 minutes of ischemia. METHODS: One hundred fourteen healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing around 250 g were used. The rats were divided into control (n=18) and experimental groups (n=96). The control groups included sham, SOD, and DMTU control groups. The experimental groups included inflow occlusion, SOD- pretreated inflow occlusion, DMTU-pretreated inflow occlusion, and inflow and outflow occlusion (HVE) groups. These 4 experimental groups had 24 rats each. The rats were sacrificed immediately, and at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after reperfusion, and specimens were obtained from left anterior lobe of the liver. The specimens were prepared using routine methods for electron-microscope observations. RESULTS: The ultrastructures of the hepatocytes in all the experimental groups were similar to those of the normal control rats after just 20 minutes of ischemia. In the inflow occlusion group, dilatation and sacculation of the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria with many electron dense granules were observed in the hepatocytes after 24 hours of reperfusion. In the course of reperfusion, damage progressed until 72 hours after reperfusion. The HVE group showed more serious changes than the inflow occlusion group. The SOD- and the DMTU-treated groups showed clear attenuation of liver damage after 48 and 72 hours of reperfusion.CONCLUSION: The ultrastructural changes of hepatocytes after 20 minutes of ischemia became more prominent by prolonging the reperfusion time. The changes after hepatic inflow occlusion were less prominent than those after HVE. DMTU and SOD attenuated the injury to hepatocytes after warm ischemia-reperfusion.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Dilatation ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Free Radicals ; Hepatocytes* ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Liver ; Male ; Mitochondria ; Oxygen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

A brief episode of ischemia and reperfusion termed 'ischemic preconditioning' has been established as rendering muscle tolerance to damage during a subsequent prolonged ischemia. The effects of ischemic preconditioning in the cardiac muscle is related to the stimulation of adenosine A1 receptor and the opening of KATP channel. The effect and mechanism of ischemic preconditioning in the skeletal muscle is not known clearly. The author performed the present study to investigate the effect and the mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning by measuring the SOD immunoreactivities on timely reperfused ischemic muscles. The healthy Sprague -Dawley rats weighing from 200 g to 250 g were used as experimental animals. Under pentobarbital (50 mg/kg) anesthesia, lower abdominal incision was done and left common iliac artery was ligated by using vascular clamp for 2 hours. Rectus femoris muscles were obtained at 0 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours of reperfusion. The group of ischemic preconditioning underwent three episodes of 5 minute occlusion and 5 minute reperfusion of common iliac artery followed by 2 hours of ischemia and timely reperfusion. Adenosine (50 microgram/kg) or pinacidil (1 mg/kg) were administered intravenously before ischemia and 2 hours of ischemia and timely reperfusion was done. 10 microM thick cryosections in all groups were obtained. The immunoreactivities of SOD were observed by use of antihuman Cu,Zn -and Mn -SOD antibodies. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The immunoreactivities of SOD in the rectus femoris muscles of rats increased after ischemic preconditioning. The patterns of the changes in immunoreactivities of Cu, Zn -and Mn -SOD were similar at the muscle fibers with large section area or small section area. 2. After the treatment of adenosine, the immunoreactivities of Cu, Zn -SOD in the group of 2 hours and 24 hours reperfusion and the immunoreactivities of Mn -SOD in the group of 24 hours reperfusion increased. After the treatment of pinacidil, the immunoreactivities of Mn - SOD increased and the immunoreactivities of Cu, Zn -SOD are similar to normal control rat. 3. After 2 hours of ischemia the immunoreactivities of SOD were similar to normal control rat. The immunoreactivities of Cu, Zn -SOD in the group of 1 hour, 2 hours and 24 hours reperfusion and those of Mn -SOD in all groups of reperfusion increased. 4. In the group of 2 hours ischemia and timely reperfusion with ischemic preconditioning, the immunoreactivities of SOD in the muscle fiber with large section area decreased and those of SOD in the muscle fibers with small section area increased in comparison with the group of 2 hours and timely reperfusion. The pattern of change between immunoreactivities of Cu,Zn -and Mn -SOD in each muscle fiber were similar. 5. After the treatment of adenosine, the immunoreactivities of SOD increased in the group of 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours reperfusion. After the treatment of pinacidil, the immunoreactivities of SOD increased in the group of 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours reperfusion. Consequently, these results suggest that the immunoreactivities of SOD increase after 2 hours of ischemia and timely reperfusion with ischemic preconditioning. The effect of ischemic preconditioning is related to opening of KATP channel partly.
Adenosine ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Iliac Artery ; Ischemia* ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles* ; Myocardium ; Pentobarbital ; Pinacidil* ; Quadriceps Muscle* ; Rats* ; Receptor, Adenosine A1 ; Reperfusion*

It has been well known that ischemia reperfusion injury to skeletal muscle following an acute arterial occlusion causes significant morbidity and mortality. There are many causes of reperfusion injury, but the oxygen free radicals have a significant role. During ischemia the ATP is catalyzed to hypoxanthine anaerobically and hypoxanthine dehydrogenase is converted to xanthine oxidase under the presence of O2 resulting in the production of cytotoxic oxygen free radical, which are harmful to muscle. The reactivity of superoxide dismutase(SOD), one of the major antioxidant enzymes, is increased against the formation of the superoxide radical during reperfusion. SOD metabolyzes the superoxide radical to H2 O2 and O2.The severity of ischemic damage deports on the duration of muscle ischemia. The reversible changes in the muscle occur afar 2 hours of ischemia and recover within 24 hours after reperfusion. After 6 hours ischemia, irreversible damage occurs and causes necrosis of muscle. The authors performed the resent study to investigate the changes of Mn-SOD and the effects of allopurinol, the inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, by measuring the immunoreactivitiy of the ischemic reperfused rectus femoris muscle of rats after 2 hours and 6 hours ischemia and timely reperfusion. A total of 176 healthy spraque-Dawley rats weighing from 200 gm to 250 gm were used. Under urthane(3.0 gm/kg.,IP) anesthesia, a lower-abdominal incision was made and the left common iliac artery was ligated by using a vascular clamp for 2 hours and 6 hours. Rectus femoris muscle was obtained at 0 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after removal of the vascular clamp. The specimens were sectioned in 14micro miter thickness with a cryostat. The immunoreactivities of Mn-SOD were observed by using Mn-SOD antibodies. The result were as follows. 1. The immunoreactivies of Mn-SOD around sarcolemma were stronger than those on the sarcoplasm. 2. The immunoreactivities of Mn-S0D after 2 hours of ischemia increased to moderate or weak reactivities at 1 hour and 2 hours of reperfusion and returned to week or trace reactivities at 24 hours and 48 hours of reperfusion 3. The pretreatment of allopurinol decreased the immunoreactivies of Mn-SOD during reperfusion. The pattern of changes of SOD immunoreactivies were similar, but the range of changes significantly decreased. 4. The immunoreactivies of Mn-SOD after 6 hours of ischemia increased after 6 hours of ischemia increased after reperfusion and showed peak at 2 hours and 24 hours specimen. After 48 hours in the reperfused group, the reactivities slightly decreased. 5. After 6 hours in the ischemia-reperfused group, the pretreatment of allopurinol decreased the immunoreactivies of Mn-SOD during reperfusion, but the effects were weak. These results suggest that the immunoreactivities of the 6 hours ischemia reperfused group were higher than those of 2-hours ischemia reperfused group in the rectus femoris muscle of rats and that allopurinol pretreatment can be credited with decreasing ischemia reperfusion injury within a reversible period.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Allopurinol ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Free Radicals ; Hypoxanthine ; Iliac Artery ; Ischemia ; Mortality ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Necrosis ; Oxygen ; Quadriceps Muscle* ; Rats* ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion* ; Sarcolemma ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides ; Xanthine Oxidase

In skeletal muscles, oxygen free radicals generated during ischemia -reperfusion are known as inducers that cause cellular injury and apoptosis and contribute to the pathogenensis of reperfusion injury. Ischemia -reperfusion for 2 hours may cause reversible changes, while prolonged ischemia -reperfusion causes irreversible changes. Following ischemia -reperfusion, diverse signals are transduced to induce a variety of gene expression. Ischemic preconditioning, defined as brief episodes of ischemia and reperfusion, is known to provide protection from the consequences of prolonged ischemia followed by reperfusion. NF -kappa B is a transcription factor that activated during ischemic preconditioning and ischemia -reperfusion. It initiates inflammation through inducing transcription of proinflammatory, procoagulant and vasoactive gene, while mediates the expression of cytoprotective proteins that block apoptosis or inhibit inflammation. The present study was performed to study the change of NF -kappa B immunoreacitvity in rat anterior tibialis and soleus muscles in response to ischemia -reperfusion and preconditioning. Experimental animals, Sprague -Dawley rats (250 ~300 g), were divided into 6 groups; 1) control, 2) ischemic preconditioning, 3) 2 hours of ischemia, 4) 4 hours of ischemia, 5) 2 hours of ischemia after ischemic preconditioning, 6) 4 hours ischemia after ischemic preconditioning. For ischemic preconditioning, left common iliac artery was occluded three times for 5 minutes followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion using vascular clamp. Ischemia was done by occlusion of the same artery for 2 or 4 hours. The specimens of tibialis anterior and soleus muscles were obtained 0, 1, 3, 6, and 24 hours after onset of reperfusion. The specimens were paraffin sectioned at 6 micrometer and NF -kappa B expression was examined using immunohistochemical methods. The results obtained were as follows : 1. In normal control group, immunoreactivity of NF -kappa B was moderate to strong in tibialis anterior muscles and weak in soleus muscles. 2. In tibialis anterior, immunoreactivity of NF -kappa B was decreased in 2 and 4 hours of ischemia comparede with normal control group. In soleus muscle, immunoreactivity of NF -kappa B was decreased in 2 hours of ischemia but it was comparable to that of normal control group in 4 hours of ischemia. 3. Ischemia for 4 hours induced more remarkable change in NF -kappa B immunoreactivity than that for 2 hours. 4. After ischemic preconditioning, changes in NF -kappa B immunoreactivity after 2 and 4 hours of ischemia were decreased compared with normal control group. 5. In ischemia for 2 and 4 hours, changes in NF -kappa B immunoreactivity of tibialis anterior muscles were more severe than that of soleus muscles. These results suggest that in the skeletal muscle, changes in NF -kappa B immunoreactivity of 4 hours of ischemia were more remarkable than that of 2 hours ischemia, and changes in NF -kappa B of tibialis anterior muscles were more remarkable than that of soleus muscles. Ischemic preconditiong attenuated the alteration of the NF -kappa B immunoreactivity induced by ischemia -reperfusion in the muscles.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Arteries ; Free Radicals ; Gene Expression ; Iliac Artery ; Inflammation ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles* ; Oxygen ; Paraffin ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Transcription Factors

Ischemic preconditioning (IP), short pre-treatment sublethal ischemia, induces a state of protection against subsequent prolonged ischemia-reperfusion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of HO-1, HSP70, and iNOS proteins in the liver subjected to the courses of reperfusion after repetitive cycles of remote IP in the rat. Using thirty five week-old rats, the remote preconditioning was undertaken by vascular clamp occlusion of blood flow to one hindlimb, with 3 and 10 cycles of 5 minutes occlusion followed by 5 minutes reperfusion. The liver was removed 0, 3, 6, 24, and 72 hours of reperfusion after remote IP and assayed by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting analyses for anti-HO-1, anti-HSP70, and anti-iNOS antibodies. The expression of HO-1 in rat liver increased at 72 hours of reperfusion groups after 3 and 10 cycles of remote IP, compared with normal control groups. The expression of HSP70 in rat liver increased at 6 hours of reperfusion groups after 3 cycles of remote IP, compared with normal control groups. The expression of HSP70 in rat liver increased at 0 hour of reperfusion groups after 10 cycles of remote IP, compared with normal control groups and decreased at 24 and 72 hours of reperfusion groups. The expression of iNOS in rat liver increased at 24 hours of reperfusion groups, but decreased at 72 hours of reperfusion groups after 3 and 10 cycles of remote IP, compared with normal control groups. In summary, these results showed that at early phase of reperfusion after remote IP, HSP70 expression was increased in rat liver. However, at 72 hrs of reperfusion after remote IP, HO-1 expression was increased and iNOS expression was decreased in rat liver.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Hindlimb ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Liver ; Proteins ; Rats ; Reperfusion

PURPOSE: The study present the central retina arterial supply, optic disc shape, RNFL (retinal nerve fiber layers) thickness and optic disc rim area. METHODS: To evaluate the relationship between central retina artery pattern, optic disk shape, and RNFL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT3000) and pattern of the central retinal artery were investigated by TRC50IX. Healthy Koreans (107 males, 97 females) were enrolled in this study. The classification is made by dividing surface of the nerve head into ten sector. RESULTS: As a result of the shape of the optic disc divided into four group, vertically oval were 54%. The results showed the central retinal artery, in 252 eyes, had its origin in the center. None of the eyes had their origin on temporal side. RNFL thickness according to OCT parameter was superior, 127.68+/-16.16 micrometer; temporal quadrants, 79.60+/-16.05 micrometer; inferior quadrants. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study indicates that in healthy Koreans the shape of the optic disc is vertically oval and the origin of their central retinal artery is at the center. The RFNL thickness of both the superior and inferior quadrants was 127 micrometer according to OCT.
Arteries ; Classification ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Fibers* ; Optic Disk ; Retina ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Vessels* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

A number of genetic and environmental factors influence athletic performance. Cardiovascular fitness is an important factor of athletic success, and ACE gene is a good candidate for regulating cardiac and vascular function. Because younger subjects have less chance of being exposed to environmental factors than older ones, genetic factors have a relatively greater influence on younger subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene between Korean young controls and athletes. By association study, there were no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between two groups, respectively (P> 0.05). When stratified by sporting disciplines, the significant difference in distribution was not also detected in our study (P> 0.05). These results do not support the hypothesis that the I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene is associated with endurance performance in Korean young subjects.
Alleles ; Athletes* ; Athletic Performance ; Genotype ; Humans ; Sports

Akt, a key protein of cell survival, can promote cell growth and survival by activations of various cellular protective factors. Ischemic preconditioning (IP) has been known to reduce ischemic injury through upregulation of phosphorylation of Akt (p-Akt). CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), an antioxidant enzyme, scavenges reactive oxygen species and protects cell from oxidative stress by increasing the activaiton of Akt. The present study was performed to examine the effects of IP on the expression of p-Akt and SOD-1 in the ischemicreperfused rat skeletal muscles. Thirty weeks old male SD rats were divided into 4 groups, such as controls, IP, 4 hour ischemia and 4 hour ischemia with IP. For IP, commom iliac artery was occluded three times for 5 min ischemia followed by 5 min reperfusion using rodent vascular clamps. Ischemia was induced by occlusion on the same artery for 4 hours. The Tibialis anterior and Soleus were removed at 0, 1, 3, and 24 hours of reperfusion. The expressions of p-Akt (Ser 473) and SOD-1 were examined with immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.In the IP group, the p-Akt and SOD-1 were increased, compared to the control group. In the ischemia group, the p- Akt and SOD-1 were decreased, compared to the control group, and were more abundant when reperfusion time were increased. IP increased the p-Akt and SOD-1 after 4 hour ischemia, and the p-Akt and SOD-1 were higher in Soleus compared to Tibialis anterior. These findings suggest that IP increases p-Akt and expression of SOD-1 in the ischemic-reperfused rat skeletal muscles, and that upregulations of p-Akt and SOD-1 induced by IP were higher in the red muscle fiber, Soleus, than the white muscle fiber, Tibialis anterior.
Animals ; Arteries ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Survival ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Male ; Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch ; Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Oxidative Stress ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reperfusion ; Rodentia ; Up-Regulation

A balance between production and degradation of reactive oxygen species has an important role in the cardiovascular homeostasis, and is known to contribute to hypertension. Under oxidative stress, an upregulation of inducible NOS (iNOS) induces ischemic-reperfusion injury, and is involved in the pathophysiology of the hypertension. Ischemic-reperfusion injury of the skeletal muscle results from reactive oxygen species, and overexpression of iNOS in the skeletal muscle increases the ischemic injury. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), antioxidant, is a major enzyme for degradation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The purpose of this study was to observe the effect ischemic preconditioning (IP) of the lower limb on the expression of iNOS, CuZnSOD and MnSOD in the white and red muscle of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Nine weeks old male normotensive rat (Wistar-Kyoto rat, WKY) and SHR were divided into control and IP groups. The IP group was further divided into 3 (3IP) and 10 (10IP) times of IP. Left common iliac artery was occluded 3 and 10 times for 5 min of ischemia-5 min of reperfusion using rodent vascular clamp. The animals were sacrificed at 0, 0.5, 1, and 3 hours after reperfusion and the Tibialis anterior and Soleus were removed. The expressions of iNOS, CuZnSOD and MnSOD in the skeletal muscle were examined with immunohistochemical methods and Western blot analysis. iNOS was expressed in Tibialis anterior, but in Soleus after IP. The expression of iNOS was increased in both WKY and SHR, it was higher in SHR than WKY. CuZnSOD and MnSOD were expressed in Tibialis anterior and Soleus, higher in Soleus, after IP. The expression of CuZnSOD and MnSOD were increased in both WKY and SHR, higher in WKY than SHR. It is consequently suggested that hypertensive individual and white muscle are more sensitive to ischemic injury of the skeletal muscle as considering their high expression of iNOS and low expression of SODs.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iliac Artery ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reperfusion ; Rodentia ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides ; Up-Regulation